I haven't posted on my low-carb blog in a while. I was very busy over the holidays with a ton of orders. I did manage to stay "on plan" but just enough not to make myself sick.

Since the beginning of the year I've been doing my version of Atkins Induction--I'm not actually back to induction or counting carbs, I'm just being very conscious of what I eat and am avoiding excessive *anything.* Cutting out most sweeteners ((Diet Pepsi, you are next!)).

I'm now totally gluten free--and it's SO great. No more puffy face in the mornings. That right there is a great reason to be GF! Now that I'm off gluten though, any tiny bit that sneaks into my body wreaks havoc for several days. The longer you're away from it, the worse it treats you. I really love this, because I have absolutely no urge to have a "cheat day," because it sets me way off track, and I end up feeling completely miserable. No amount of indulgence is worth that kind of time! This also means I'm completely avoiding any type of restaurant setting. The last "take out" meal I had was a salad from Subway--stupid me--did not even occur to me that they were chopping my veggies in the same spot they place the bread. Lesson learned! Good thing I like to cook!

I tried what I thought would be "okay" bacon this week from Mama Jean's. BAD IDEA. Just one little bite and the hidden MSG attacked my brain and gave me a migraine for the rest of the night. This time it was hiding in "spice extractives" -- it makes me so crazy mad that even a health food store carries such junk. I wish MSG was illegal!

Hopefully, I'll carve out some time to share some of my current staples and recipes soon. It's all a very long learning curve. I'm back down 10 more lbs from the end of last year, so I'm very happy about that. And despite my back issues ((I'm really an 85 year old woman in disguise)) I'm feeling pretty good!